Kirknewton And Westnewton : 19th Century Population

Curiously, despite its greater importance as a local centre, the census figures indicate that Kirknewton and its surrounding township had a smaller population than Westnewton Township during the 19th century.

The figures also suggest that the populations of both Kirknewton and Westnewton were already beginning to decline from the mid 19th century onwards, having risen significantly in the first half of the century. A total of 55 inhabitants were recorded in the township of Kirknewton in 1801. This climbed steadily over the next 50 years reaching a maximum of 88 in middle of the century.

Thereafter numbers began to trend downwards and had dropped back to 67 by the beginning of the 20th century. In Westnewton township the total number of inhabitants rose from 60 at the beginning of the century to 95 by 1821, a level it largely maintained up to the 1861 census. Thereafter the population dropped rapidly, only 48 being listed in the 1891 census, although some recovery was recorded subsequently. The impact of the agricultural depression in the latter stages of the 19th century must play a large part in explaining these figures.